Director, Product

As the Director, Product at Toast, your primary responsibilities will include owning major IT initiatives from discovery to delivery, mentoring junior product managers, driving cross-functional partnerships, and documenting business requirements and solution designs. You'll also be responsible for measuring and documenting the results of systems implementation, ensuring continuous optimization and innovation in our processes.

Toast is looking for candidates with a Bachelor's degree in business or computer science and over 10 years of professional experience in Product Management. A strong background in systems analysis, financial transformation, and expertise in SQL tools and cloud product management tools is also vital for this role. Additionally, effective negotiation and relationship-building skills are essential.

In the role of Director, Product, you will work closely with various teams including GTM, CS, R&D, and Finance. You will drive collaboration by understanding their needs and pain points, thus facilitating a prioritized approach to product delivery. Your partnership will be crucial in executing a complex vision and optimizing internal processes.

The base salary range for the Director, Product position at Toast is between $168,000 to $269,000 USD, depending on skills and experience. In addition to your base salary, you will also benefit from performance bonuses, equity, and comprehensive benefits, making it an attractive total rewards package.

Toast promotes a hybrid work model that values collaboration while also respecting individual work preferences. The culture emphasizes inclusivity and accountability, ensuring that every team member thrives within a supportive community. As a Director, Product, you will play a vital role in fostering this culture while driving product excellence.

To effectively prioritize product initiatives, you should focus on aligning project goals with business objectives and stakeholder needs. Use data-driven decision-making to evaluate potential impacts and prioritize efforts that deliver the most value to the organization and customers.

When discussing a successful product launch, be sure to highlight your role in planning, executing, and measuring the product's performance. Describe the challenges faced, how you collaborated with your team and stakeholders, and the ultimate impact of the product on the business.

Fostering collaboration requires open communication and structured processes. Regular check-ins, collaborative tools, and ensuring all team members understand their roles in the project are essential. Create a shared vision and encourage feedback to keep everyone aligned and engaged.

In approaching system analysis, I start with identifying the root cause of issues through data collection and stakeholder interviews. Utilizing process modeling techniques allows me to visualize workflows, which helps in determining the best solutions while considering both immediate and long-term impacts on the organization.

To keep the team focused, I establish clear goals and timelines while breaking down larger projects into manageable tasks. Regular feedback sessions and progress updates provide accountability and allow us to adapt as needed to stay on track with our deliverables.

I have extensive experience using Jira for project management and Confluence for documentation. Utilizing these tools effectively allows teams to track progress, collaborate seamlessly, and maintain transparency, which is critical for successful project execution.

Influencing stakeholders requires building trust and understanding their perspectives. I prioritize transparent communication, tailored presentations highlighting the benefits of the product, and ensuring ongoing collaboration to address any concerns while facilitating buy-in for new initiatives.

I focus on comprehensive documentation, including outlining the business objectives, detailed user stories, and acceptance criteria. Collaborating closely with stakeholders ensures that all perspectives are captured and validates that our documentation aligns with their expectations and needs.

Key metrics include user adoption rates, customer feedback scores, revenue growth, and system performance by tracking specific KPIs. Identifying these metrics early on allows the team to measure success accurately and pivot strategy as needed based on data-driven insights.

Addressing conflicts requires an empathetic approach, where open, honest communication is key. I encourage team members to express their concerns and work together to find common ground, fostering an environment where differences can lead to constructive discussions and solutions.